4 Ways to Get Killer Letters of Recommendation

4. Send the letter writer everything they need

Whether you’re asking for a letter on the phone, in person, or via email, let him or her know that you’d be happy to send a list of talking points in a separate email if necessary, such as your creativity, or how much colleagues admired your personality and work ethic. Don’t be bashful — this is the time to really sell YOU.

Finally, if the person has agreed to write you a letter of recommendation, let them know you will be sending them an envelope addressed to where it needs to go with a stamp or two included. (Most institutions want the letter to come straight from the source, so there’s no chance of the applicant tampering with what’s written.) You’re asking someone to do you a huge favor. The least you can do is provide the address and pay for a new envelope and postage.

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Like most things in life, getting someone to write a letter of recommendation is something that is done best after a lot of preparation. While it can be seen as a necessary evil in many cases, it can be useful to do some reflection and figure out exactly what your strengths are. After all, once you realize how great you are, it will be that much easier to convince someone to write a letter saying it for you.